MountainTrue Statement on DEQ’s Revised Coal Ash Classifications

On Wednesday, May 18, the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) released it’s revised risk classifications for North Carolina’s 34 coal ash pits, upgrading the sites that were classified as “low” or “low to intermediate” priority to “intermediate” priority. The following is MountainTrue’s statement on DEQ’s action:

The risk classifications issued by the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) on Wednesday, May 18 are a vindication for the thousands of people who campaigned, rallied and attended public hearings across the state to make the case that “no community is a low priority.”

All “low” priority sites have been upgraded to “intermediate.” Once implemented, the toxic coal ash at every site across the state will be excavated and moved to a lined impoundment where it will no longer be left to seep into and pollute our groundwater, rivers and streams. This is the only right and good course of action, and the DEQ should be commended for addressing widespread public concerns.

There is an unfortunate caveat: DEQ has said it will ask the legislature for the ability to revisit and downgrade the coal ash classifications in 18 months – something for which we can see no justification and will vehemently oppose. The department has been collecting data from these sites for years, the evidence is clear and the time for action is now.